Nigel Short, Vladimir Kramnik, Veselin Topalov, Silvio Danailov or Martin Breutigam? Who made headline news this week?
It is Saturday Open Forum. The forum is yours!
Chess Daily News from Susan Polgar
Saturday Open Forum
About Author
Susan
Do you know whatever happened to Israel Zilber? The last I heard he was mentally ill and homeless living in Washington Square Park in New York City. I understand you played chess with him in the park. When was that and what was his playing strength?
I hope he got help.
Thanks
Susan,
In your opinion, what are the best software tools to study endgames?
Chessmom
Most important headline this week:
Global climate change is “very likely” to have a human cause, an influential group of scientists has concluded.
links:
http://unfccc.int/2860.php
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/
science/nature/6321351.stm
This week I discovered and downloaded the free version of ChessBase light on their web site. I wonder if I’m getting the best use out of it. I’ve inputted my recent games. I also had a book of game collections, and I’ve begun inputting that. I’ve always found it hard to go through chess books because of the variations. ChessBase allows me to see the pieces as if I used a chess set and then to enter the variations, too.
Susan have you heard anymore on the supposed Gothic chess match between Anatoli Karpov and Bobby Fischer that was supposed to take place sometime this year?
Do not hold your breath on Bobby Fischer playing any form of chess publicly.
I personally thought that was a publicity stunt. I doubt that Bobby would ever play that game publicly.
Magnus seems to be doing well in the blindfold games. He won 2 games yesterday and first game today. Holding in 2nd game.
I watched the 2nd game yesterday and thought that Magnus played well. He is pretty good at blindfold. Hope he wins this 2nd game.
I made a mistake.
Carlsen won 2 games yesterday.
today he lost his first game and won his 2nd game and is now playing his 3rd game of today.
He let his queen go for a couple of rooks. the computers say it is even but not much fun to play without the queen especially in blindfold. Magnus is black in this game.
Susan
I think there is a problem with the use of having to enter the letters to post. It does not seem to work most of the time since the website was changed recently.
global warming is not true. certain places on the earth increase in temperature and some decrease in temperature but the net effect is zero. the overall temperature of the earth hasnt changed. furthermore the earth goes through changes in temperature as its orbit changes around the sun. any slight change in oscilation can cause a change in the earths temperature. the scientist that are warning of humans raising earths temperature are doing it for financial reasons. theres money to be made by scaring the public into thiking were turning into a irrevserable warmer planet .this isnt true. theres many scientists now coming over to the side that says that global warming is just lies. the UN even contradicted itself in saying that humans have less of an impact on global warming than previously thought. then in the same sentence claim global warming is getting worse largly due to human influences. so even they cant get there facts straight. in fact there sceintific data to shows that antartica’s temperature has dropped 1.2 degree’s in the last twenty years. like public enemy said in there song dont belive the hype!!
wolverine
“I personally thought that was a publicity stunt. I doubt that Bobby would ever play that game publicly.”
I thought everyone thought that. Hard to believe that months later, someone still believes it.
Danailov CENSORED part of Nigel’s mail in his complaint to Chessbase. Intriguing.
I actually think Topalov does cheat.
So much smoke…
Leko thinks Topalov cheats. (And Leko is a gentleman).
Kasimdzhanov thinks Topalov cheats.
Morozevich thinks Topalov cheats.
Short suspects Topalov cheats
Kasparov says Topalov certainly has things to explain
And many other GMs who chessbase say have contacted them during the last year!
30 year old suddenly jumping from 2700+ to 2813 inside a 3-4 year period is unheard of.
Now we know why!
CATCH THE CHEAT! Examine the video records!
Long live Kramnik. The soul of everything that is good in chess!
Sam Sloan, a convicted felon:
1. Child care endorsed by Larry Parr:
Shamema was left in the care of Mr. and Mrs. Charles Roberts by
Ismail Sloan from the age of less than one year until she was five. At first they were paid a fee as “babysitters”. However, later Mr. Sloan left the child for about two and a half years with no contact and no support. Mr. and Mrs. Roberts stood in loco parentis to her. (source cited in full below)
***
2. Per the Wikipedia article on Sloan (largely written by Sloan’s
meatpuppet): “In 1986, Sloan fled the USA with Shamema and established a new home in the United Arab Emirates. In 1990, Shamema was returned to the USA in a manner that was deemed a kidnapping by the UAE.”
Ahem:
The child and Mr. Sloan eventually resided in the United Arab
Emirates until 1990. In 1990, the mother of Mr. Sloan, whom he had
taken with him to the United Arab Emirates, was removed from a Bangkok hospital by a Thai lawyer and brought back to Virginia. The Thai court also awarded custody of Shamema to the Thailand Department of Public Welfare but Mr. Sloan escaped with the child back to the United Arab Emirates. However, in October 1990, Mr. Sloan’s wife, Renuka, along with her child by Mr. Sloan, Jessica, and Shamema came to Virginia by airplane with tickets purchased and sent to them by Mr. and Mrs. Roberts. (source cited in full below)
***
***
***
http://www.samsloan.com/gamble-o.htm
Order of Judge Michael Gamble awarding custody of Shamema to Charles and Shelby Roberts
VIRGINIA: IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF THE COUNTY OF AMHERST
RE: SHAMEMA HONZAGOOL SLOAN
NOV 18 1991
ORDER
7312
This cause came to be heard on August 20, 1991 and September 25, 1991, at a trial de novo upon the appeal of Ismail Sloan from the Order of the Amherst County Juvenile and Domestic Relations Court dated July 17, 1991. Ismail Sloan was represented by James H. Massie III, Esq.; the appellees, Mr. and Mrs. Charles Roberts, were represented by Linda W. Groome, Esq.; the natural mother by her guardian ad litem, Lisa L.
Schenkel, Esq.; the child Shamema was represented by her guardian ad
litem J. Thompson Shrader, Esq.; the Amherst County Department of
Social Services, was represented by W. Edward Meeks, III, Esq.
Upon the request of Mr. Meeks, the Amherst County Department of Social Services was dismissed and released as a party from this case.
This court considered the evidence and found as follows:
1. The child Shamema was born in 1981 in New York to Honzagool Sloan and Ismail Sloan. Custody of the child was granted to Honzagool Sloan on May 24, 1982 by order of the New York Court. The father was ordered not to remove Shamema from the state of New York but did so in July 1982 during visitation, without the permission of the court or Honzagool. Although Honzagool made efforts to have the child returned
to her, the child was never returned to that jurisdiction. The mother
eventually returned to her native Pakistan and has made no further
efforts to regain custodial possession of Shamema since then. The New
York Courts eventually relinquished jurisdiction of the custodial
matters to the Virginia courts.
2. Shamema was left in the care of Mr. and Mrs. Charles Roberts by
Ismail Sloan from the age of less than one year until she was five. At
first they were paid a fee as “babysitters”. However, later Mr. Sloan
left the child for about two and a half years with no contact and no
support. Mr. and Mrs. Roberts stood in loco parentis to her.
3. In 1985 Mr. Sloan returned to Virginia and filed a petition for
custody in the Amherst Juvenile Domestic Relations Court. Honzagool
was served by mail and by publication. On April 2, 1986 the Court gave
temporary legal custody of Shamema to Ismail Sloan and physical
custody to Mr. and Mrs. Charles Roberts. The court further ordered
that the child should not be removed from the state of Virginia. By
order dated August 25, 1986, the court ordered that effective
September 7, 1986, Mr. Sloan was to be awarded physical custody, with
visitation allowed to Mr. and Mrs. Charles Roberts, with a final
custody hearing to be held on October 8, 1986. Between August 25, 1986
and September 7, 1986 Ismail Sloan removed the child from Virginia,
again in violation of the standing court order.
4. The child and Mr. Sloan eventually resided in the United Arab
Emirates until 1990. In 1990, the mother of Mr. Sloan, whom he had
taken with him to the United Arab Emirates, was removed from a Bangkok
hospital by a Thai lawyer and brought back to Virginia. The Thai court
also awarded custody of Shamema to the Thailand Department of Public
Welfare but Mr. Sloan escaped with the child back to the United Arab
Emirates. However, in October 1990, Mr. Sloan’s wife, Renuka, along
with her child by Mr. Sloan, Jessica, and Shamema came to Virginia by
airplane with tickets purchased and sent to them by Mr. and Mrs.
Roberts.
5. On August 27, 1986 Mr. and Mrs. Roberts had filed for custody of
Shamema in the Amherst County Juvenile and Domestic Relations Court.
6. Honzagool Sloan, submitted herself to the jurisdiction of the
Amherst County Juvenile and Domestic Relations Court by writing
several letters to the court.
7. On September 5, 1991 while Shamema was visiting Mr. Sloan under the
supervision of Mr. Rick Groff of the Amherst County Department of
Social Services, Mr. Sloan tried to leave with her running to a rental
car which he had parked near her home. In his possession were airplane
tickets to Japan and the child’s passport. The child ran from him to
Mr. Groff’s vehicle and locked herself in the vehicle. Mr. Sloan was
arrested and charged with abduction in the City of Lynchburg.
8. Mr. Sloan testified that he was still married to at least two wives
and that at least two of them and their children resided in the same
house in Lynchburg for some time. There is a dispute between Mr. Sloan
and his brother, who is committee for their mother in South Carolina,
over possession and ownership of their home in Lynchburg. Mr. Sloan
has no other place of residence.
9. Mr. Sloan, although a person of high intelligence, has no clear
source of income or employment; he frequently files court cases
claiming to be indigent. His credibility as a witness was very poor.
10. Mr. and Mrs.. Charles Roberts have raised the child in a stable
normal middle class lifestyle and the child is thriving well in
school. They have developed a close relationship with them and she
views them as her parents.
11. Shamema indicated to the court her desire to live with Mr. and
Mrs.. Roberts and that she did not wish to see Mr.. Sloan.
Upon consideration of these and other facts, the Court considered the
case law relating to custody disputes between natural parents and non-
parents. Pursuant to Bailes v. Sours, 231 Va. 96, 100, 340 S.E.2d 842
(1986), there are five factors which the court can consider to rebut
the presumption of parental fitness for custody found in Patrick v.
Byerly, 228 Va. 691, 694, 325 S.E. 2d 99, 101 (1985). These factors
were considered by the court as they related to the case as follows:
A. Unfitness – Mr. Sloan’s unfitness was exhibited in his lifestyle,
attitude, behavior, instability, living circumstances, personal habits
and emotional status. The court also considered his multiple wives and
families living together with no concern exhibited by Mr. Sloan in
this regard. Pursuant to Brown v. Brown, 218 Va. 196, 199, 237 S.E. 2d
89 (1977), the home life of Mr. Sloan was deemed to be clearly an
unfit and immoral environments. B. Previous divestiture order – Mr.
Sloan was previously divested of custody of Shamema by order of the
New York Court. C. Voluntary relinquishment – Mr. Sloan relinquished
custody of the child to Mr. and Mrs. Roberts when she was an infant.
D. Abandonment – Mr. Sloan abandoned the child for two and one half
years. E Special Circumstances – Mr. Sloan has disobeyed court orders
in New York or Virginia on three occasions by taking the child out of
the jurisdiction of the appropriate court and away from the custodial
parties. The child indicated a desire to live with Mr. and Mrs..
Roberts and not with Mr. Sloan.
The court considered the case of Eichelberger v. Eichelberger, 2 Va.
App. 409, 412, 345 S.E.2d 10 (1986) regarding preserving the ties with
the non-custodial parent. However, under the circumstances, such
contact is not in the child’s best interest because of the unusual
circumstances in that Mr. Sloan continually takes the child to foreign
countries or other jurisdictions when court ordered not to do so.
Mr. and Mrs. Roberts are fit custodians. The presumption in favor of
the natural parents has been overcome by evidence. The best interests
of the child will be served by placing her with Mr. and Mrs. Roberts.
Shortridge v. Deel, 224 Va. 589, 594, 299 S.E. 2d 500, 503 (1983).
Accordingly, it is the judgment of the court that legal and physical
custody of Shamema Honzagool Sloan be placed with Mr. and Mrs. Charles
Roberts. Visitation by Ismail Sloan is denied at the present time.
However, the court will retain jurisdiction of this matter for a
period of time to allow Mr. Sloan to petition in the future for
visitation rights, if he can demonstrate to the court that Shamema
will not be removed from the jurisdiction of the court and that the
best interests of the child will be served by allowing visitation.
This custodial ruling is in prejudice to the rights of Honzagool
Sloan, although her rights to petition for visitation are preserved
for such future time as she may wish to petition for visitation.
IT IS SO ORDERED
ENTER: 11/18/91
____________________
J. M. Gamble
To those who say that Fischer will be making a return of any sort- the odds of this happening are about the same as seeing all four members of Abba performing live together again.
Very interesting reading on Sloan. It is refreshing to read some facts as presented instead of attacks. The facts as presented make for interesting evidence of the personality of Sam Sloan.
I would never have voted for him. But this makes it more certain. The guy is a nut. A fruitcake. How does he get onto the EB of USCF. A total disgrace and a scandal. I can not imagine any group that would put this person onto their EB. Shame on USCF.
But he will be gone very soon. The next election will rid us of his presence.
Anyone who could treat his own daughter like a possession to be fought over is not in the proper psychic space to make good judgements for USCF. I can just see him now. Picking up the chess clock and chess board and pieces and running away to UAE so as not to finish a game of chess. What a sport he is.
I used to think that Nigel Short was annoying but clever and amusing. After his unprovoked public attack on Gata Kamsky, and now his accusations of Topalov, I think he is a self-serving, attention-starved twit.
If in fact there is evidence that Topalov cheats, this was not the proper way to bring it out. By the same token, the accusations made against Kramnik during Elista were equally wrong. Meanwhile, FIDE sits on its hands and does nothing.
In any other organized sport, there are rules of conduct to follow and established punishments for breaking them. If a coach publicly complains about the officiating, he/she is fined thousands of dollars. Professional organizations DO NOT air their dirty laundry in public — they deal with it privately.
Hi,
the response to Anon who has given the list of GM’s opinion concerning cheating. There are only few names on that list. The remaining GM’s have other opinion, it seems, and they are majority.
If we look to the list most of them are from the former Soviet Union = Kramniks fellows, Leko has the same manager.
It is other question if they have the right to do that accusations, it is contrary to Fife Ethics ;-).
Regards
P.
Dear Susan,
This is off the topic but, I believe, an important question. On the cover of the newest issue of Chess Life is the new U.S. Correspondence Chess Champion. Why is this type of chess never mentioned by you? A lot of people enjoy this type of chess.
I do not really care what others think. However, being a great admirer of your professional achievments and love for the game, I am at a loss as to why you never mention Correspondence Chess…even in passing. We have a new US CC Champion. Isn’t this worth noting?
I know you can’t answer every post. Yet, I’ve read before that you do read them. If you can answer this, then it would be most appreciated.
Correspondence chess made me a better OTB player. I’m sure NM Alex Dunne would agree. What is your opinion?
Most Sincerely,
Tim
>>>30 year old suddenly jumping from 2700+ to 2813 inside a 3-4 year period is unheard of.>>>
HAHAHAHAHAHA
Please check facts before writing nonsense. Topalov’s rating variation is far far far from “unheard of”. Period.
On all the blah-blah regarding Short (and everybody else, why don’t you criticize Kasparov?! He has said it also) I’d like to point out that FIDE
*Has no credibility dealing with complaints. Remember when they threatened to break Karpov’s legs in an open session?!
*Is totally opaque
*Charges absurd deposits to make a formal complaint
The USCF only requires a very small deposit to file a complaint, last I checked it was $15. Also, the USCF, though an imperfect organization, at least has the level of trustworthiness to return the deposit. FIDE does not have such credibility. Unless I had strong physical evidense and was the player he cheated in that evidense, I would not trust FIDE with the deposit. Perhaps you think this is more important than $500, and perhaps it is, but the chess world is rocked with scandal after scandal, usually with FIDE in the middle of it, so extra $500 donations to them each time is an insane request for you to be making of Short, Kasparov, and 50 other GMs. Shame on you!
Furthermore, FIDE should be capable of investigating simply by knowing lots of very professional, well mannered GMs have had strong concerns. If Kasparov and Leko think it’s suspicious, that should be enough for an investigation, not to mention all the rest. But no they haven’t made $500 FIDE donations, so who cares? Lame
And as far as we know, formal complaints were filed. FIDE is 100% opaque. Probably if you file a complaint, they’re going to tell you you’re not allowed to talk about it until it’s completed.
Given all of this, I am pleased that the chess community is given a chance to ponder these events. FIDE is not much of a guardian. We don’t have a sollution yet, but at least we have a little more information.
If you have posted complaints about Short talking publicly, I challenge you to commit yourself to forcing changes in FIDE to make it properly transparent and responsive. If you’re not doing this, then you’re just picking sides, waving flags, telling us to take the dictator’s word and quietly and in general acting like partisan meanyheads.
On Topalov’s rating:
Morozovich makes that ratings journey on a continual 18 month cycle. Almost all the top 10 players are able to have a good period, get their rating well past 2750, and then come crashing back down to 2700.
Furthermore, the agism presented is disgusting. In other sports, most people fall back after a brief youthful peak. And yet others are able to compete at the top level through their middle age. Dan Marino was allowed to have a good year without people accusing him of cheating because he’s “too old to improve himself.”
I do think he’s cheating, but if agism is taken as evidense against him, then we are not competant to pass judgement.
paris…
And what makes you think he is cheating?
Just because some jealous people make fuss around this?
Topalov does show a significant sharp rise. I will use the same data that someone else posted here claiming this data shows no sharp rise. here is his data. I hope the data is correct. I did not check it.
one more time waving the rating issue without first checking.
JAN ’07 2783
OCT ’06 2813
JUL ’06 2813
APR ’06 2804
JAN ’06 2801
OCT ’05 2782
JUL ’05 2788
APR ’05 2778
JAN ’05 2757
OCT ’04 2757
JUL ’04 2737
APR ’04 2737
JAN ’04 2735
OCT ’03 2735
JUL ’03 2735
APR ’03 2735
JAN ’03 2743
OCT ’02 2743
JUL ’02 2745
APR ’02 2745
JAN ’02 2739
OCT ’01 2733
JUL ’01 2711
APR ’01 2707
JAN ’01 2718
OCT ’00 2707
JUL ’00 2707
JAN ’00 2702
Notice the October 2004 data shows a breakout from the previous pattern. He immediately continues to rise at the very highest levels. This data shows that suddenly he is defeating all the very best grandmasters in the world. A big change. Almost impossible to suddenly accomplish.
I suspect that what he does is get deep complications. Then uses the computer to solve the complicated mess of what to do. So he only needs a move or two to get the correct answer at the most complicated position. Why does he never make a mistake in complex positions. Everyone else does. But he is perfect in complex positions but makes mistakes in simple positions. Something wrong there.
What appears to have happened is exactly what some GM’s have said. that in 2004 at a fide k/o world championship, Topalov suddenly did very well. He came in 3rd place. But he was eliminated in rapid games. his overall score was 11.5/16 games.
It is exactly at this tournament that the talk about him cheating began. No one claimed any cheating previous to this tournament. Something changed here. In fact he also won the World Championship except that he was eliminated in the rapid games where there would not have been time for him to get assistance.
His real rise was from about 2735 to 2813 over a few tournaments in which he suddenly was playing very strong. It is not the time period it is the number of games and the opposition with results that raises many questions. His performance rating in his games had to be much higher than the 2813 over a time when only Kasparov and Kramnik had reached 2800. He comes out of the pack at 2735 and surges above 2800 with no problems in almost a straight line upward spike.
So the evidence supports that Topalov has been getting away with something for a long time now. The computer programs in 2004 would have more than helped him out. Remember he is only looking to find a few correct moves in complex positions. He definitely does not use the computer for all his moves.
typo error.
In fact he also won the World Championship except that he was eliminated in the rapid games where there would not have been time for him to get assistance.
should read he almost won,
In fact he almost won the World Championship 2004, except that he was eliminated in the rapid games where there would not have been time for him to get assistance.
He did win the next wc in san luis because there were not rapid games and the accusations of cheating were very strong. Even stronger than in 2004. This is not something that normally happens.
Fide continues to ignore all problems.
Has anyone identified any alias’d posts at this blog by either Sam Sloan or Susan Polgar? [This is not one of them – honest.] IP addresses help here.
Anonymous – you ask why I think he is cheating, so here goes. (And hey get an account, or sign your name, what have you to hide?)
The reasons I think Topalov is cheating are threefold; the testimony, the circumstantial, the character issues.
It really saddens me, too, I used to be a big Topy fan. My friend of 7 years is Bulgarian, and Topy’s second used to be friends with her brother. So when Topy got the title, I felt like, “yay we won!” And now my Bulgarian friends, they will only say about it, “oh it is all so sad.”
As for “jealous people” I highly doubt Kasparov is jealous of Topy. It’s easy to criticise Short, why isn’t there a balance of attacks on Kasparov for wanting answers?
The main thing is the recent eyewitness accounts. The journalists reporting it apparently have further eyewitnesses, but won’t name them. The anti-free-press attacks are really disgusting, and unfortunately are limiting the number of people willing to be named publicly, and limiting the journalists to fact-reporting, instead of real investigative journalism. But nobody seems to dispute or deny the suspicious behaviors of Danailov, rushing in and out, making lots of phone calls outside, and positioning himself in suspicious locations where he can’t even see the board, and making odd gestures.
In a scholastic tournament, if a parent acted this way there would not be any surprise at accusations, and something would be done.
And obviously computer help at a couple critical places helps. Even if it was Kasparov playing, having access to a computer would help. Nearly all GMs agree on that. No need for us fish to caught up in hero worship and think the GMs are so great, any help would hurt.
So that’s the eyewitness part. The circumstantial part is that in Elista Topy did poorly, and there were one-way glass screens between him and the audience. Furthermore, in this one time he’s ever played with a high level of security, he played poorly and engaged in bizarre off-board tactics. Like Spassky said, Fischer may have accused the organizers at every turn, but he never accused Spassky personally. That’s why the match was able to be completed. So the thrashing about in Elista was truely unprecedented.
Not as strong as the eyewitness accounts, but consistent. If he’d given a 2800 perf with that screen in place, it would raise a lot of doubts about the signalling. But no he only gave 2700 perf with the screen. So lets use those screens more often, eh?
Third, his character is not that of a sportsman. His comments about Kramnik being too weak to play him were just a drop in the bucket. Every month he was slandering his strongest potential adversary. His behavior was not like a chess champion, but like some schoolyard bully, or some boxer trying to scare his opponent. Furthermore, he never presents valid explanations for any of the accusations. If he was somebody like Leko, who is mild mannered and polite, then it would seem normal if he didn’t want to discuss such things. But he is the biggest mud slinger of the top 20 GMs. His character isn’t to stay out of it. But instead of explanations, we consistently get wild attacks agaisnt his accusers.
If it was just the eyewitness, I would say, that is suspicous but who knows, we need an investigation. Given the sum of the rest of the situation, the generally unsportsmanlike conduct from him, it is clear to me he is certainly harming chess, and probably cheating.
I hope the video evidense will be leaked to us, because if the whole chess community has the evidense then FIDE will be forced to act. As long as the evidense is secret, it will saddly be decided politically.
Tim, great question about correspondence chess. I have asked many times for people to send me stories. No one sent anything about correspondence chess. I cannot chase after every story. If anyone can send me the info, I will it immediately.
Best wishes,
Susan Polgar
http://www.PolgarChess.com
Chessmom: Igor Khmelnitsky is a known chess teacher, and he wrote a positive review on amazon.com for a $29 product “Chess Endgame Training” by Convekta, for those rated 1500 and above. I have not found anything saying it /needs/ the “Chess Assistant” database program, though you should confirm that with a knowledgable reseller. Here are:
Amazon entry with Khmelnitsky’s review.
Review by Robert Pawlak, saying the CD is well organized…
Also, this page by reseller “Chess Central” mentions programs for all ranges, and has advice I distinctively agree with.
I don’t own this or any other endgame-specific software, though. Books, I could say a little more about—look what’s just out in paperback, Jeremy Silman’s Complete Endgame Course; Silman is an engaging writer, and this is for all levels. For the more studious, anything by John Nunn. Hope this helps, —Ken Regan (IM)
Great pattern recognition skills there!
1. a 2735 raises to 2801 in 18(!) months playing at a 2900 level!
2. This player often plays flawlessly in complex positions, but makes mistakes in easier positions!
In addition to scrutinizing the video evidence, someone should analyse his games jul 04-present day in detail with the common chess programs and then compare these statistics to his earlier games!
If a clear pattern can be recognized, then he in all probability is a cheater!
Topalov could yet prove to be the biggest disgrace ever to play chess…
Dear Susan,
Thank you for your kind response. Since you have asked for great stories about correspondence chess, then I will post some to this blog…for there are many.
The great chess genius Alexander Alekhine stated, “Correspondence Chess and over-the-board chess compliment each other.”
Now, I know lots of people think that every correspondence player simply uses Rybka or Fritz and cheats. This is not true. There could be nothing further from the truth. Of course, some people do.
However, I’ve read this blog daily and it seems that accusations of cheating is just as popular for OTB players. Everyone seems to be obsessed with either Topalov, Kramnik or their managers. Everyone has taken a side…some say Topalov has “cheated” while others say that Kramnik “cheated.”
There are so many other things happening in the chess world. Kramnik is the World Champion. Agree. Disagree. Doesn’t matter…you have to live with it.
My only point is that Correspondence Chess is alive and well. It can make one a better OTB player (as it did with me).
Personally, I believe that our new U.S. Correspondence Chess Champion has many wonderful and instructive games that we can learn from. Some are in the newest issue of Chess Life.
It is pathetic to see all of the so called “chess fans” so obsessed with Topalov and Kramnik…as if these two human beings represent the myriad of chess enthusiasts world wide!
There is more to chess than Topalov and Kramnik and paranoid delusions of “cheating.”
I bring up Correspondence Chess because the new U.S. Champion should, at the very least, be mentioned on such a popular chess blog.
And for those who don’t know, IM Edward Duliba is the new U.S. CC Champion. He’s a great player and his games are worthy of study.
I’ll finish by repeating myself:
There is MORE…much more, to the chess world than Topalov or Kramnik. A new U.S. CC champion is crowned!
It is a headline that is at least worthy of discussion.
Tim
In fact, at this moment on the ICCF web site,
http://www.iccf-webchess.com/
GM Timmerman (2706) is playing an exciting game against
GM GM Umansky, Mikhail Markovich (2670).
Correspondence chess at its best, folks!!
There IS more to “CHESS LIFE” than “Topalov and/or Kramnik.”
Tim
Susan,
I have been watching your DVD on the Colle. I had a question, though. What do you do against a King’s Indian or Dutch set-up. Is there a different opening that is better to transpose to in these cases?
Hi.
a lot was told about analysing T. results. The same has to be told for analysing other GM results. i.e. Kramnik before and after Torino Olympic games.
The collapse in super final Russia and v.good performance in Torino.
It is obviouos that all top GM are using computer support during theirs careera. It is matter how much they can take from computer support in analysis and training.
Nowdays it is theoreticly possible that unknown player who is not on Elo list is playing with GM power. It is enough for him to have chess books, teacher and computer chess programs as partners.
If the top GM knows how to use computer in his traning he could make a big jump in power of play.
You are learning from your partners, if the partner has 3000 Elo, you will go up to 2900.
It is the matter of hard work.
Regards
P.
@ Wolverine: Interesting opinion. Do you have any sources that support your assertions?
mayadi
Greetings, Susan and everyone!
Could someone please tell me which Web site is the current, official site of The International Correspondence Chess Federation?
I have found the following two URLs, with the latter looking more modern:
– http://www.iccf-webchess.com/
– http://www.iccf.com/
Thank you very much, in advance!
Cordially,
David
—
http://www.iearn.org/
http://ddickerson.igc.org/